Maximum residue levels for methoxyfenozide
- Pesticide MRLs
Summary
The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intends to lower the maximum residue level (MRL) for methoxyfenozide from 0.6 to 0.3 mg/kg on aubergines/ eggplants (G/SPS/N/EU/802).
EU proposes to reduce MRL for methoxyfenozide on aubergines
Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlorpropham, fuberidazole, ipconazole, methoxyfenozide, S-metolachlor and triflusulfuron in or on certain products
Draft Annex (PLAN/2024/1823_v1)
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1069 of 1 June 2023 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for bixafen, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, fenpicoxamid, fenpyroximate, flutianil, isoxaflutole, mandipropamid, methoxyfenozide, and spinetoram in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1406 of 3 August 2022 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for methoxyfenozide, propoxur, spinosad and thiram in or on certain products
Update
The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intends to lower the maximum residue level (MRL) for methoxyfenozide from 0.6 to 0.3 mg/kg on aubergines/ eggplants (G/SPS/N/EU/802).
Impacted Products
Aubergines/ eggplants, apples, pears, peaches, broccoli, tomatoes, basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans, sugar canes
What is changing?
The EU proposes to lower the MRL for methoxyfenozide on aubergines/ eggplants from 0.6 to 0.3 mg/kg.
The EU has previously published the following two Regulations amending MRLs for methoxyfenozide, as summarised in Table 1.
- Regulation 2022/1406 reduced the MRLs for methoxyfenozide to the limit of determination (LOD) of 0.01 mg/kg on apples, pears, peaches, and broccoli from 28 February 2023. (The LOD is the the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) The MRL for tomatoes was also reduced.
- Regulation 2023/1069 increased the MRLs for methoxyfenozide on basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans, and sugar cane.
Why?
The approval of methoxyfenozide was restricted by Regulation 2019/158 to greenhouse uses only. In an earlier assessment of methoxyfenozide MRLs, EFSA (2014) noted that residue trial data for aubergines/ eggplants was missing. A temporary safe MRL was proposed while awaiting additional data. The applicant later provided the necessary information, and EFSA (2023, 2024) has confirmed that the data supports a lower MRL for aubergines/ eggplants.
During the process of renewal of approval, EFSA identified unacceptable risks for consumers with the current MRLs for methoxyfenozide in a number of fruits and vegetables (EFSA 2020). In the case of tomatoes, an alternative good agricultural practice (GAP) was identified that would permit the setting of a lower MRL. For others, it was determined that the MRL should be set at the LOD.
New Codex MRLs (CXLs) for methoxyfenozide have been adopted. EFSA (2022) has not identified a consumer health risk for these CXLs, so they have been adopted as EU MRLs in Regulation 2023/1069.
Timeline
The new MRL for aubergines is expected to apply from approximately March 2026. The precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.
MRLs for apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes, and broccoli applied from 28 February 2023.
Increased MRLs for basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans, and sugar cane applied from 22 June 2023.
Recommended Actions
Authorities in countries that are members of the WTO can provide feedback on the EU’s proposal (G/SPS/N/EU/802) by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 14 February 2025.
Suppliers of aubergines/ eggplants should review their current use of methoxyfenozide and assess whether any changes will be needed to existing GAP to ensure compliance with the new MRL.
Background
MRLs are set in accordance with the rules set out in Regulation 396/2005. For information on current MRLs for other substances, please consult the EU Pesticide Residues database.
Resources
EFSA (2014) Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for methoxyfenozide according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal, 12(1): 3509.
EFSA (2020) Focussed assessment of certain existing MRLs of concern for methoxyfenozide. EFSA Journal, 18(12): 6330.
EFSA (2022) Scientific support for preparing an EU position in the 53rd session of the codex committee on pesticide residues (CCPR). EFSA Journal, 20(9): 7521.
EFSA (2023) Lack of confirmatory data following Article 12 MRL reviews for 2,4‐DB, iodosulfuron‐methyl, mesotrione, methoxyfenozide and pyraflufen‐ethyl. EFSA Journal, 21(5): 8013.
EFSA (2024) Modification of the existing maximum residue level for methoxyfenozide in aubergines. EFSA Journal, 22: e8922.
Sources
Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for chlorpropham, fuberidazole, ipconazole, methoxyfenozide, S-metolachlor and triflusulfuron in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1069 as regards maximum residue levels for bixafen, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, fenpicoxamid, fenpyroximate, flutianil, isoxaflutole, mandipropamid, methoxyfenozide, and spinetoram in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1406 as regards maximum residue levels for methoxyfenozide, propoxur, spinosad and thiram in or on certain products
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EU proposes to reduce MRL for methoxyfenozide on aubergines
Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for chlorpropham, fuberidazole, ipconazole, methoxyfenozide, S-metolachlor and triflusulfuron in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1069 as regards maximum residue levels for bixafen, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, fenpicoxamid, fenpyroximate, flutianil, isoxaflutole, mandipropamid, methoxyfenozide, and spinetoram in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1406 as regards maximum residue levels for methoxyfenozide, propoxur, spinosad and thiram in or on certain products
What is changing and why?
The EU proposes to lower the maximum residue level (MRL) for methoxyfenozide on aubergines/ eggplants from 0.6 to 0.3 mg/kg.
In 2014, in an earlier assessment of methoxyfenozide MRLs, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) noted that residue trial data was missing for aubergines/ eggplants. A temporary safe MRL was proposed while awaiting additional data. The applicant later provided the necessary information, and EFSA has confirmed that the data supports a lower MRL for aubergines/ eggplants.
Other MRLs for methoxyfenozide were changed in earlier Regulations, as summarised in Table 1.
Actions
Authorities in countries that are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) can provide feedback on the EU’s proposal (G/SPS/N/EU/802) by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 14 February 2025.
Suppliers of aubergines/ eggplants should review their current use of methoxyfenozide and assess whether any changes will be needed to existing good agricultural practices (GAP) to ensure compliance with the new MRL.
Timeline
The new MRL on aubergines is expected to apply from approximately March 2026 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.
MRLs for apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes, and broccoli applied from 28 February 2023.
Increased MRLs for basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans, and sugar cane applied from 22 June 2023.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.